Spaghetti Wall: in the mood for love

A recognition for a sensory experience between cinematic aesthetics and the philosophy of encounter.

Studio Chiara Caberlon took part in The Rooom, the exclusive design contest promoted by Ferroluce, Innova and Spaghetti Wall (with art direction by DesignFever), which challenged 24 architecture firms to reinvent the concept of a private dining room.

An architect and brand consultant with a distinctive vision in the luxury hospitality sector, Chiara Caberlon bases her philosophy on the search for genius loci: an approach aimed at revealing the deep identity of each place through a cultured, sensory design practice. The project "In the Mood for Love" is born from a collaboration with her daughter Matilde Giannetti, already part of the studio and a recent graduate in Scenography from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera. The meeting of shared passions and the family bond between the two women gives life to an intimate, authentic project, able to explore the many facets of the feeling of love, driven by the desire to interpret the product as the set design of an experience.

The project drew inspiration from the saturated, melancholic atmospheres of Wong Kar-wai's masterpiece, "In the Mood for Love", recreating that visual universe of soft lighting, intimate spaces and emotional tension, in a tribute to the refined aesthetic of 1960s Hong Kong. The goal is to recreate a feeling of elegant nostalgia, secret romance and an almost suffocating intimacy: every element is chosen to suggest an untold story, a love held back.

The space presents itself as an intensely feminine, sensual environment, a kind of "room within a room" that wraps around guests like a cocoon. Dominated by deep, red tones, the project is not simply a dining room, but a stage for human relationships. The distinctive architectural element is the "ring" ceiling: a symbolic nod to the encounter between people. In an age dominated by technological mediation, the project brings attention back to the philosophy of encounter, celebrating the beauty of authentic confrontation, passion and the unspoken.

In collaboration with Ferroluce, light becomes the absolute protagonist: not just function, but a narrative tool. The lighting is conceived with an almost cinematic approach, with ceramic shaded lamps diffusing a soft, warm, amber glow, while the light beams, often directional, create marked contrasts and long shadows that wrap the space in an aura of mystery and intimacy.

The colour palette is intense, dominated by Chinese red and crimson, colours that evoke restrained passion and a barely hinted desire. The spaces are enriched with soft, welcoming materials, such as velvet for the heavy curtains and sofas, while oriental graphics and playful patterns replace silk and damask fabrics, suggesting a lighter, more contemporary delicacy. Through the skilled use of ceramic and carefully chosen textures, the lighting highlights every detail and enhances the Spaghetti Wall wallpapers, creating an intimate, seductive atmosphere where every private dinner becomes an unforgettable sensory experience.

At the contest's final evening, "In the Mood for Love" received the "Best Styling" Honourable Mention, awarded by the jury for the compositional care and aesthetic balance of the installation. The project will be exhibited alongside the other 23 selected concepts during Milan Design Week 2026, inside the Le Stanze showroom.